JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Two of the six people charged in the deadly shooting of Jacksonville 7-year-old Breon Allen Jr. in January have entered guilty pleas in the case.
Tavaris Kelly, 17, and Zharod Sykes, 24, changed their pleas to guilty in the deadly shooting, which also seriously injured Breon’s cousin, Lafayette Mango Jr., 21.
Kelly, one of the gunmen who fired at Breon and his cousin, according to police, pleaded guilty on July 16 to second-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder and two gun charges.
Sykes pleaded guilty on June 24 to second-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
The other four defendants -- Donte McGhee, 17; Keith Fields, 18; Dannel Larkins, 20; and Keith Johnson, 21 -- have pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder.
McGhee, the other gunman, according to police, is also charged with attempted first-degree murder and shooting or throwing deadly missiles. He is scheduled to be back in court on Aug. 28.
Johnson and Fields are also charged with attempted first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder. Fields is due back in court on Aug. 28, and Johnson will be back in court on Sept. 4.
Larkins is also charged with tampering with evidence and is due back in court on Sept. 3.
Kelly’s plea agreement is sealed, but court documents show that Sykes agreed to “testify truthfully against co-defendants” in his plea deal.
Sykes’ plea deal did not include a negotiated sentence, and he could face a maximum of life in prison for the second-degree murder charge and 30 years each on the other charges.
Johnson is also facing charges in two unrelated cases.
Sheriff T.K. Waters said the shooting was “a targeted, planned act of bloodshed,” adding that it was gang-affiliated.
According to the arrest warrants for Fields, Larkins, Johnson and Sykes, the suspects were members or associates of 6 block and the shooting that took Allen’s life “was motivated with the purpose to benefit, promote, and/or further the interest of the criminal gang.”
Police said Mango is a rapper and documented associate of the criminal gang “ATK.” ATK is one of the rival gangs to 6 block, JSO said, and the ongoing feud between the two gangs led to the shooting death of Charles Jones, a popular Jacksonville rapper known as “Foolio,” last year.
Jones was a prominent member of 6 block and all five of the people accused in Jones’ ambush murder in Tampa have connections to either ATK or 1200, another rival gang, according to JSO.
The feud between 6 block and its rival gangs ATK and 1200 has spanned over a decade, with dozens of murders by and against both sides, JSO has said.
Following the death of Jones in June 2024, investigators said Mango released a song titled “6 Ways To Die” featuring another rapper who is also affiliated with ATK.
In the song, investigators said Mango “disses” multiple 6 block members who have died, including Foolio, Lawrence Davis, 21, and Adrian McKinzie, 16, who were murdered in 2018 and 2023, respectively. There is also a reference to Julian House, who was murdered in 2023 after he reportedly left a recording studio.
Investigators said cellphone location data placed the men accused in Breon’s death at the scene of the shooting as well as near the scene where a black Kia, believed to be used as the getaway car, was later found.
Investigators searched the black Kia, where they found a match to the spent rifle casings found at the scene.
Breon’s parents, Casheena Love and Breon Allen Sr., said they were surprised to learn there were six arrests made in connection with their son’s murder, and they were even more surprised to learn their ages.
“They all kids, haven’t even experienced life yet. That’s what’s crazy. Who could even talk to them to want to do something like that? There is so much more to do than hanging and shooting and hurting,” Love said.
Watch Breon’s parents’ full reaction after learning of the two new arrests in the video below
Waters said all the people believed to be involved in the shooting are now behind bars.
“Our agency will continue to work with our partners at the State Attorney’s Office to ensure that the six arrests will be held accountable and receive the punishment that they rightfully deserve,” Waters said.